Minimum Wage Update

The private sector is attempting to revive itself by taking a series of measures to ensure the rights of its workers. Following the approval of a series of assistance programs for the public sector, former Minister and head of the Economic Bodies, Mohammed Choucair, announced that the meeting of the Index Committee will take place at 10:30 AM next Friday. He informed the Minister of Labor in the caretaker government, Mustafa Bayram, that the agenda will include the cost of living and increases for the private sector. Choucair confirmed that an agreement has been reached with the leadership of the General Labor Union to raise the minimum salary and wages to 4.5 million Lebanese pounds and to increase transportation allowances from 90,000 to 125,000 pounds, along with increases of up to three times for school grants and family allowances. These increases come in light of the rise in the exchange rate of the dollar and the erosion of the purchasing power of the Lebanese pound.